From the Editors: UAE remains the most attractive country for youth

UAE REMAINS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE COUNTRY FOR YOUTH: The latest Arab Youth Survey has revealed that the UAE is the role model that the youth most want their own country to follow. For the 10th year in a row, the UAE has emerged as the country that most Arab youth would like to live in – far ahead of the US, Canada and other Western nations. The UAE’s ‘growing economy’ and ‘wide range of work opportunities’ were the top drivers behind its appeal among youth. The survey also found that there is a rise in the UAE’s attractiveness as the number one destination Arab youth would like to call home, thanks to the measure taken by the UAE leadership to combat COVID-19 pandemic. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BEIRUT BLAST: There is a standoff in Lebanon currently, between the judge investigating the horrific Beirut port blast of August 2020, and the politicians he is trying to probe. This is the latest in the never-ending saga of crises in Lebanon. Judge Tarek Bitar is being targeted by certain politicians, like those allied with Hezbollah. They claim the probe is riddled with political bias. Such is the condition of the Lebanese state that senior officials - from all parties - have simply ignored the demands of the investigative judge, and not showed up at all for questioning. Also, there is no sign the police have any inclination to enforce the arrest warrants. This is Lebanon, where no one has been convicted for any of the dozens of blasts and assassinations that have happened over the past few decades. Like in those cases, it appears no one is responsible for the Beirut blast of 2020. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

THE ‘SQUID GAME’ PHENOMENON THAT HAS THE WORLD RIVETED: Don’t be surprised if you hear about Harvard University launching a course on the K-fever phenomenon that has the world in its grip. Be it the breakthrough of the K-pop music genre, movies such as ‘Parasite’ commanding a global audience or now ‘Squid Game’, which is defying all norms in the viewership algorithm. The Netflix dystopian drama has now officially become the biggest hit on the platform, with 111 million viewers tuning in to the show since launch. Stroll down a Twitter timeline and celebrities from Kerry Washington to Cardi B are in on the craze. The South Korean production transcends multiple cultures, while presenting a commentary on the economic condition and struggles of people in the country. Much like ‘Parasite’ in a way if you think about it, as it touches on the subjects of class divide and capitalism. But most importantly, the show has viewers rooting for the underdog and who doesn’t love a good success story? [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]